Entanglements of Race and Opportunity Structures; Challenging Racialised Transitions for ‘the Lost Generation’

Young people are increasingly referred to as the ‘lost generation’ because a series of worldwide crises has meant they are at a greater risk of marginalisation from the labour market. However, these risks of marginalisation have been felt more disproportionately by racially minoritised young people. This article challenges the dominant thinking and practice in youth employment policy and service delivery by examining how the entanglement between race and opportunity structures constrains racially minoritised young people’s transition to employment. It argues that race structures disadvantage racially minoritised young people in the labour market, focusing primarily on employers’ recruitment practices. This article pays particular attention to the role of employees in employment support services in dismantling race structures. Using qualitative data from a research project in the UK, this article concludes that employer engagement is a channel through which employees within employment support services can dismantle race structures. Through relationships with employers, employees within employment support services can mitigate risks of marginalisation for racially minoritised young people.